Truemors
A bluefin tuna marked for auction. 
bluefin tuna marked for auction. (Photo: WWF)
NGO lambasts Japan’s role in bluefin tuna delay
WORLDWIDE
Monday, November 02, 2009, 23:10 (GMT + 9)
The conservation organisation Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) has claimed that a report authored by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) was kept quiet for more than one week due to pressure from Japan.
In said document, scientists concluded that the population of bluefin tuna could fall to less than 15 per cent of its original size, with which the species would fulfil the criterion to enter Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
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Sergi Tudela. (Photo: WWF) |
In so doing, experts acknowledge the necessity to fix a prohibition on the international trade of bluefin tuna to preserve stocks, which are in decline.
The WWF, however, has affirmed that the report became public only in late October, although it had been ready 10 days before, Publico reports.
This delay was spurred by “the pressure exerted by Japan’s delegate,” which asked for the information to be kept quiet until the Commission’s next meeting on 9 November, revealed the director of the WWF Fishing Programme for the Mediterranean, Sergi Tudela.
“Japan silenced the data to prevent the Commission from being pressured to protect the tuna,” Tudela added.
Between 6 and 16 November in Brazil, ICCAT delegates will decide whether or not they set forth new restrictions for the fishing of the species.
The next CITES conference is scheduled for March 2010.
Related article:
- Scientists support Atlantic bluefin tuna trade ban
By Analia Murias
editorial@fis.com
www.fis.com
Source:
www.fis.com/fis/worldnews/worldnews.asp?l=e&id=34409&...
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at 18:41 on November 9th, 2009
“Japan silenced the data to prevent the Commission from being pressured to protect the tuna,” Tudela added.
The WWF, however, has affirmed that the report became public only in late October, although it had been ready 10 days before, Publico reports.
This delay was spurred by “the pressure exerted by Japan’s delegate,” which asked for the information to be kept quiet until the Commission’s next meeting on 9 November, revealed the director of the WWF Fishing Programme for the Mediterranean, Sergi Tudela.